Chapter 136- Charles Raullot
"I will go too," Eva said seriously.
"No, I can't risk revealing that you approached someone like Mikayla. I want you to go back to your family for an important matter. Now that things came down to this, we will need to handle the situation carefully."
"I understand… What should I do exactly?" Eva asked.
***
Kai and Kaya then took a flight from the nearest city toward Mikayla's house which was located in a rather rural area near what seemed to be a small forest.
The place was quiet and beautiful but rather minimalistic for someone like Mikayla Raullot.
Kai left Kaya to enter the house alone as he waited for a good opportunity to sneak in. The place was heavily guarded with Origin users, anti-Origin weapons of all kinds, and even RPGs ready to blow any target to pieces.
'They really tightened the security.' Kai thought as he stood on top of one of a building slightly far away from there. His piercing eyes could see clearly even from this distance. He wanted to check out something before he made his move.
'The culprit is someone who can access Mikayla's food. So, it's safe to say that they know what Mikayla eats, when he eats, and who delivers food to him. Such inside information makes it hard to believe that it's an outside job.'
However, Kai didn't want to jump to conclusions before he even met the old man.
Meanwhile, Kaya entered the house. She had to go through multiple check-ups from guards and even had to dispose of her phone, wallet, and even her car keys.
"M-Miss Kaya!" A slightly older male came rushing toward her the moment she entered the house. His name was Sebastian and he was Mikayla's personal butler and the only man Mikayla trusted.
"How is he doing?" Kaya asked as she followed the butler through the corridors toward Mikayla's residence.
"H-He didn't wake up yet. All the doctors that check up on him said that his body is slowly deteriorating and he will die soon if we don't treat him."
"And did they find a treatment?"
"..." Sebastian went silent.
"Sigh, Sebastian, did they find a treatment? Answer me." Kaya asked again with a serious tone.
"N-No. T-They're still working on identifying the type of poison Lord Mikayla consulmed."
"Tsk…"
The two eventually reached the room which was guarded by two men with strong auras around them. However, before she could open the door, they stopped her. They looked at Kaya coldly. But, when she reciprocated the glare, they looked away.
"Let her in." Sebastian's whimpering tone immediately changed as he ordered the guards. His demeanor also completely changed.
Walking inside, the room was quite vast but with minimalist decor except for a collection of swords in the corner that looked extremely expensive.
Tracing the room with her gaze briefly, Kaya finally looked at the old man lying unconscious on the bed. Weird medical wires were strapped to him and the rhythmic sound of the heartbeat machine echoed in the otherwise quiet room.
"Old man…"
Approaching him, Kaya could immediately see the huge difference in Mikayla's complexion. It was now sickly pale and his body seemed to have lost a few pounds in the matter of a day or two.
Sitting on the chair beside him, Kaya looked at him silently.
"They finally got you, huh?" She asked with a small, sad smile. Her eyes flashed with a myriad of complicated emotions. Sadness, anger, and regret were the most p.r.o.nounced of them.
"I still vividly remember when you first found me. You remember, don't you? What you said to me, I mean."
No answer came from Mikayla predictably but Kaya still continued speaking.
"'What happened here tonight, It's not an accident. Someone had set your church on fire.' You said. I still can't believe that someone would do something like that to a small church in an unknown country. But still, I felt that your words were the truth. 'Being weak is frustrating, isn't it? This world is cruel enough to punish the weak and reward the strong. It's how things work and you, child, are still weak. Far too weak. So, do you want to gain power? Power that will make anyone who dares to hurt you think twice before doing it. Power to find that person who did this and take your revenge?'"
Suddenly, Kaya started chuckling lowly.
"It's kind of funny how ruthless you were to a mere 5-year-old child. But, I still was amazed by your words. I really believed it and I still do. Now, here I am, sitting beside you… I became stronger, old man." She said in a wavering tone. "I still have a long way to go. But, I'm way closer than I ever was. So… Thank you."
Her grat.i.tude toward Mikayla for introducing her to her own powers was immense. Without him, she didn't even know where she could've ended up.
As she was like that, the door knocked suddenly and Sebastian walked inside.
"M-Miss Kaya!"
"What now, Sebastian?" She asked with an irritated tone.
"T-There is a problem. Mr Char-"
"Now, now, no need to waste your breath talking, Sebastian. You did a good job."
A man suddenly pushed Sebastian to the side and entered the room. He was in his 30s with a very handsome face and an elegant demeanor. He wore a very expensive suit and wore a gold watch that looked as expensive as a car.
His hand had already moved and pulled out a few money bills before he tucked them in Sebastian's chest pocket.
"Here is a tip for your hard work."
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't take such a th-"
"No, you will. Now, excuse us for a second. I didn't meet my adorable little sister in a while." He smiled elegantly as he kicked Sebastian out.
When the door closed, Kaya finally spoke. "What are you doing here, Charles?"
"Is that your 'I missed you so much, big brother?' Because if it is, then I'm happy you didn't change one bit, Kaya. I missed you too." Charles said as he approached the bed and sat down on the chair, crossing his legs in front of him.
"Cut the bulls.h.i.t, Charles, and answer my question." She repeated as she threatened Charles.
"Sigh, you're as hard as ever, Kaya. Well, it's obvious, isn't it? I came here to check on my father when I heard the horrible news."
"Since when did you care about your father?"
"Hm? How cruel of you, my little sister. He's my father. I have his blood running in me. Even if we have our disagreements, I still love him."
"I definitely believe that," Kaya replied sarcastically. She could easily see through this man's seemingly perfect front. He was a manipulator and a scheming b.a.s.t.a.r.d of the first degree.
"Listen, Kaya. I'm not here to argue. Especially not in front of my sick father. We need to ignore our animosities and work together to find a cure for my father." He said.
"Well, I'm not done. Because, when I thought about it, it really didn't make sense, did it? I mean, a crime like this shouldn't be possible in normal cases. Poisoning the previous patriarch of the Raullots family? This is a very big deal. The only way I could see this happen is if someone from inside the family did it. Someone who wants the old man quickly dead so they can benefit. Someone who would do anything to claim something the old man had prohibited him from ever acquiring."
Kaya's tone turned colder as the tension in the room reached an unbearable degree. Then, she finally lifted her eyes and looked at Charles.
"Do you have any idea who could that be?"